Spring often saw Sarasota pitching new baseball teams

Pitcher Tex Clevenger warms up in front of coach Del Baker in this 1954 photo.

PHOTOS / SARASOTA HISTORY CENTER

By JEFF LAHURDCorrespondent

Published: Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 5:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 5:29 p.m.

Nothing so much brings joy to a sports fan as a hometown team to root, root, root for. But for three generations of Sarasotans, the thrill of cheering on our very own baseball team during spring training has often proven to be a frustrating experience — our team today, someone else's tomorrow.

The first major leaguers to trot onto Sarasota's field of dreams, the mighty New York Giants of 1924, did not so much bail on the town after the 1927 season; they just did not return in 1928. Their iron-fisted manager, John J. McGraw, struck out in local real estate, taking many local investors with him. Thereafter, he felt it advantageous to stay well north of the Sarasota county line.

(Westbrook Pegler, the great sports writer, quipped "A trip through Florida would have awakened unhappy memories of an expanse of jungle near Sarasota which Mr. McGraw and some associates were retailing to investors...at very interesting prices.")

The Chamber of Commerce Sports Committee, chaired by Paul Cobb, Ty Cobb's brother, first learned of the desertion from an article in a Georgia newspaper reporting that the Giants were going to make the switch to Augusta.

The jilted townsfolk immediately began the search for a new home team to root for, a difficult task given the depressed nature of Florida's economy, but from 1929 to 1932 our spring training cheers went to the Indianapolis Indians, champions of the American Association.

The Indians played at Payne Park for four years. The financial pinch of the Great Depression forced them to opt out in 1932 in favor of French Lick, Indiana, closer to their home.

Money was not an issue for Tom Yawkey, the new owner of the Boston Red Sox. As a youth he had inherited millions of dollars, and was dubbed the world's richest boy.

Boston was still mired in the throes of the Babe Ruth Curse — the team had finished the 1932 season with a dismal record of 43-111. Yawkey assured Sox fans, "It's going to be a long hard job, but we are going through to the end and eventually we will put the Red Sox back on their rightful heights."

The good times

Everyone loves an underdog, and the Red Sox in those days filled the bill. For its part, Sarasota was in the financial basement, barely scraping along, the real estate bust having morphed into the Great Depression, halting growth and development.

The team was put up in the beautiful Sarasota Terrace Hotel, adjacent to Payne Park — Today's County Administration Building on Washington Boulevard — an arrangement the Sox enjoyed.

Payne Park was in top notch shape. The right field fence, which some players complained was so close a good hitter could bunt over it, had been moved farther back. After a month of hard workouts, spirited tune-up games and no reported injuries, the team left for Beantown. Manager McManus promised: "I'm out to win every ball game, exhibition or not."

Press reports sent to Boston about Sarasota were everything the Chamber of Commerce could wish for: "Sarasota has proved the best training camp the Sox have had in years."

The city showed its appreciation by throwing the team a dinner, attended by 120 fans, with Mayor E.A. Smith extending a hopeful invitation for them to return. The Sarasota Herald editorialized: "It is the sincere wish of every fan in Sarasota that they will have the pleasure of listening in on the World Series in October and that our good friends, the Red Sox, will be the representatives of the American League and return to Sarasota in 1934 as world champions. But regardless of your position in the race, they will sincerely want you to come back here next year."

Yawkey assured, "This is my first trip to Florida and I am glad to be in Sarasota. I look forward to a good many seasons here."

Thus the relationship was enjoined and the Sox and Sarasota enjoyed an easy, comfortable bond. Each March the Circus City welcomed the Beantown players, coaches, scribes and out-of-town fans, ever hopeful that the "curse" notwithstanding, the Sox would turn it around.

During the off season, Yawkey spent big money to acquire some major talent, earning the team the nickname "Gold Sox." Chief among these was first baseman, Jimmy Foxx, one of the greatest sluggers ever.

He was a hulk, so strong it was said even his hair had muscles. When trying to figure out how to pitch to him, one hurler said, "I'd rather not throw the ball at all."

He was followed by Ted Williams, whose relationship with Sarasota and the local press was in marked contrast to the love/hate relationship he engendered in Boston. Sarasota was great for him. He was an avid fisherman and at the time Sarasota was one of the fishing capitals of the world.

An abrupt ending

As Boston slowly inched forward, so, too, did the fortunes of Sarasota improve. The post World War II boom saw another transformation, especially in the burgeoning county. The town and its hometown team grew together.

In 1958 a silver anniversary party was thrown for the Sox at the National Guard Armory with 600 fans, a suitably large cake with candles and a gift of 25 golf balls from Wayne Hibbs, president of the Chamber, to Joe Cronin, the Sox manager.

Accepting the applause of the excited fans and community leaders, a broadly smiling Cronin shared his appreciation: "We have had 25 years of happy association with the people of Sarasota and have no intention of moving our training base to Arizona, California or anywhere else."

To underscore this welcome assertion, Cronin read a telegram from Yawkey, pledging to remain in the Circus City.

In May of 1958, Payne Park was given a $100,000 face-lift that included a new clubhouse and improved seating.

Four months after the 1958 spring training season ended, a bombshell hit Sarasota in the form of a press release: "The Boston Red Sox announce they will conduct spring training in Scottsdale in the 1959 season."

On July 3, 1958, the Sarasota Herald broke the sad news with the banner headline: "RED SOX TO LEAVE SARASOTA."

Sarasota County Commissioner John O. Binns summed up the feeling for most area residents: "I'm just heart-sick over it and indignant at the same time. I think the association has been too long and too pleasant for each party for it to be broken up so suddenly."

<p>Nothing so much brings joy to a sports fan as a hometown team to root, root, root for. But for three generations of Sarasotans, the thrill of cheering on our very own baseball team during spring training has often proven to be a frustrating experience — our team today, someone else's tomorrow. </p><p>The first major leaguers to trot onto Sarasota's field of dreams, the mighty New York Giants of 1924, did not so much bail on the town after the 1927 season; they just did not return in 1928. Their iron-fisted manager, John J. McGraw, struck out in local real estate, taking many local investors with him. Thereafter, he felt it advantageous to stay well north of the Sarasota county line.</p><p>(Westbrook Pegler, the great sports writer, quipped "A trip through Florida would have awakened unhappy memories of an expanse of jungle near Sarasota which Mr. McGraw and some associates were retailing to investors...at very interesting prices.") </p><p>The Chamber of Commerce Sports Committee, chaired by Paul Cobb, Ty Cobb's brother, first learned of the desertion from an article in a Georgia newspaper reporting that the Giants were going to make the switch to Augusta.</p><p>The jilted townsfolk immediately began the search for a new home team to root for, a difficult task given the depressed nature of Florida's economy, but from 1929 to 1932 our spring training cheers went to the Indianapolis Indians, champions of the American Association. </p><p>The Indians played at Payne Park for four years. The financial pinch of the Great Depression forced them to opt out in 1932 in favor of French Lick, Indiana, closer to their home. </p><p>Money was not an issue for Tom Yawkey, the new owner of the Boston Red Sox. As a youth he had inherited millions of dollars, and was dubbed the world's richest boy.</p><p>Boston was still mired in the throes of the Babe Ruth Curse — the team had finished the 1932 season with a dismal record of 43-111. Yawkey assured Sox fans, "It's going to be a long hard job, but we are going through to the end and eventually we will put the Red Sox back on their rightful heights."</p><p><b>The good times</b></p><p>Everyone loves an underdog, and the Red Sox in those days filled the bill. For its part, Sarasota was in the financial basement, barely scraping along, the real estate bust having morphed into the Great Depression, halting growth and development.</p><p>The team was put up in the beautiful Sarasota Terrace Hotel, adjacent to Payne Park — Today's County Administration Building on Washington Boulevard — an arrangement the Sox enjoyed. </p><p>Payne Park was in top notch shape. The right field fence, which some players complained was so close a good hitter could bunt over it, had been moved farther back. After a month of hard workouts, spirited tune-up games and no reported injuries, the team left for Beantown. Manager McManus promised: "I'm out to win every ball game, exhibition or not." </p><p>Press reports sent to Boston about Sarasota were everything the Chamber of Commerce could wish for: "Sarasota has proved the best training camp the Sox have had in years."</p><p>The city showed its appreciation by throwing the team a dinner, attended by 120 fans, with Mayor E.A. Smith extending a hopeful invitation for them to return. The Sarasota Herald editorialized: "It is the sincere wish of every fan in Sarasota that they will have the pleasure of listening in on the World Series in October and that our good friends, the Red Sox, will be the representatives of the American League and return to Sarasota in 1934 as world champions. But regardless of your position in the race, they will sincerely want you to come back here next year."</p><p>Yawkey assured, "This is my first trip to Florida and I am glad to be in Sarasota. I look forward to a good many seasons here."</p><p>Thus the relationship was enjoined and the Sox and Sarasota enjoyed an easy, comfortable bond. Each March the Circus City welcomed the Beantown players, coaches, scribes and out-of-town fans, ever hopeful that the "curse" notwithstanding, the Sox would turn it around.</p><p>During the off season, Yawkey spent big money to acquire some major talent, earning the team the nickname "Gold Sox." Chief among these was first baseman, Jimmy Foxx, one of the greatest sluggers ever.</p><p>He was a hulk, so strong it was said even his hair had muscles. When trying to figure out how to pitch to him, one hurler said, "I'd rather not throw the ball at all."</p><p>He was followed by Ted Williams, whose relationship with Sarasota and the local press was in marked contrast to the love/hate relationship he engendered in Boston. Sarasota was great for him. He was an avid fisherman and at the time Sarasota was one of the fishing capitals of the world.</p><p><b>An abrupt ending</b></p><p>As Boston slowly inched forward, so, too, did the fortunes of Sarasota improve. The post World War II boom saw another transformation, especially in the burgeoning county. The town and its hometown team grew together.</p><p>In 1958 a silver anniversary party was thrown for the Sox at the National Guard Armory with 600 fans, a suitably large cake with candles and a gift of 25 golf balls from Wayne Hibbs, president of the Chamber, to Joe Cronin, the Sox manager. </p><p>Accepting the applause of the excited fans and community leaders, a broadly smiling Cronin shared his appreciation: "We have had 25 years of happy association with the people of Sarasota and have no intention of moving our training base to Arizona, California or anywhere else."</p><p>To underscore this welcome assertion, Cronin read a telegram from Yawkey, pledging to remain in the Circus City. </p><p>In May of 1958, Payne Park was given a $100,000 face-lift that included a new clubhouse and improved seating.</p><p>Four months after the 1958 spring training season ended, a bombshell hit Sarasota in the form of a press release: "The Boston Red Sox announce they will conduct spring training in Scottsdale in the 1959 season." </p><p>On July 3, 1958, the Sarasota Herald broke the sad news with the banner headline: "RED SOX TO LEAVE SARASOTA." </p><p>The afternoon's Sarasota Journal proclaimed, "Sarasota Stunned By Divorce."</p><p>Sarasota County Commissioner John O. Binns summed up the feeling for most area residents: "I'm just heart-sick over it and indignant at the same time. I think the association has been too long and too pleasant for each party for it to be broken up so suddenly."</p>